Southern Water is launching a task force to cut storm overflows by 80 per cent by 2030 as part of the company’s zero tolerance approach to pollution – customers have made it clear the use of storm releases is no longer acceptable.
Ian McAulay, Southern Water’s CEO, said:
”There is a growing call to take action to reduce the frequency and impact of storm overflows. That is a task of scale and complexity and needs multi-sector collaboration and a join up of policy to make it happen, which of course appears difficult today.
“However, just twenty years ago, the quality of our coastal waters needed to improve drastically. Today, reflecting significant investment driven by focused policy, all 83 of our regional bathing waters meet strict European Standards and a total of 78 are rated excellent or good.
“Delivering a similar transformation in the reduction of storm releases is the logical next step and we believe this can be achieved. We will play our part in leading and driving the collaboration and investment needed.” Click here to read more
Guardian Southern Water: Geldof backs non-payment campaign over sewage dumping
Singer and activist supports protest by Kent residents over firm’s continued discharges into sea
A water company fined a record £90m for dumping raw sewage is facing a ratepayers’ revolt over its continued discharges into the sea. A non-payment campaign against Southern Water, initiated by four residents of Whitstable in Kent, is understood to be growing.
The protesters this week were given the support of Bob Geldof, who lives in nearby Faversham. According to the Kent Online website, Geldof told an audience in the town: “Don’t pay your water bills to Southern Water – they can fuck off. God bless the people of Whitstable. I’m straight there to join them. In fact, I’ll join them immediately.”
Those refusing to pay their bills include a local Conservative councillor, Ashley Clark. In a letter to the water company, he wrote: “I have no intention of contributing to the £90m fine recently imposed on that company for criminal activity.
“Throughout the summer Southern Water has continued to send my untreated sewerage, along with that of other local people, directly into the sea, which I use on a daily basis to swim from April to October.
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